Urge Congressman Gene Green to Strengthen Climate Legislation

Dear Congressman Green,

I write asking for your help in strengthening the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. Climate change is a serious issue that must be met with equally serious, comprehensive and bold legislation. As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee you are in a position to help make that happen.  I urge you to advocate for:

·  Emission cuts of 35-50% under present levels by 2020, which is consistent with the advice of the world's scientific community.

·  Elimination of offsets/carbon speculation in the bill.

·  100% auctioning of pollution allowances so companies will not be able to pollute for free, and money raised from the auctioning will be provided for renewables. 

The Nobel prize winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - a body of more than 2500 renowned scientists from around the world, half of whom are Americans - recommends that we reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 35-50% below current levels by 2020. The IPCC warn that even if we cut our emissions by at least 35%, humanity will still only have a 50/50 chance of stabilizing average global temperatures and averting cataclysmic climate change.

Even if we institute the IPCC recommendations, scientists report that if temperatures continue to rise at the current rate, Africa will most likely lose half of its food production by 2020 and the Himalayan glaciers will most likely melt by 2035 (and perhaps earlier) resulting in over 40% of the world%u2019s people losing half their water supply. Just recently the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that if we stopped emitting GHG today, there are currently enough emissions present in the atmosphere, that the climatic changes underway are largely irreversible for at least the following 1,000 years.

In Texas we face larger hurricanes, greater flooding, the loss of the barrier islands, droughts and perhaps the loss of much of our water. Warmer temperatures will mean more ozone for the Houston area, where levels are already some of the highest in the nation. Flooding, which is already a problem (and particularly one that we have seen in recent days) will worsen in coming years as Houston is expected to receive rain in more sporadic, concentrated events. Warmer ocean temperatures in the Gulf will undoubtedly translate into more intense and destructive hurricanes. Rising sea levels will mean less protection from barrier islands (like Galveston and Bolivar Peninsula), which help protect inland cities like Houston from the full devastating effects of hurricanes by bearing their brunt and slowing their speed. By 2100, the gulf is expected to rise by 2-5 feet which will mean that barrier islands will literally lose ground as sea levels rise, drastically reducing their surface area and ability to act as a buffer. Ike was only a category 2 hurricane when it crossed the Galveston shoreline but managed to cause more than $28 billion in damage. Stronger hurricanes will surely do much more damage.

The adverse impacts of climate change fall heaviest on the poor. Residents that already have to deal with bad air quality will be at greater risk from climate change and global warming co-pollutants. The poor are also the most vulnerable to the disasters and illnesses brought on by climate change. Many low-income families do not have insurance and when hurricanes and flooding damage homes and property or injure people, low income residents are severely affected by such impacts.

We must take bold action to help avert the worst of climate change. The longer we wait to institute substantial reductions in GHG emissions the more costly it becomes to do so. What kind of world are we willing to leave our children and grandchildren?  

Benefits of taking strong Action

In addition to creating a safer, more hospitable world for our children and grandchildren, combating climate change also provides somewhat more tangible and immediate benefits such as cleaner air and the creation of green jobs.

Houston has some of the worst air quality in the nation. With the average temperature expected to continue rising, more Houstonians will suffer from allergies and other respiratory ailments including asthma which is exacerbated by our ozone problems and brought on by the higher temperatures. A reduction in GHG emissions, as sought by the American Clean Energy and Security Act, would also translate into reduced air pollution, which would directly benefit many Houstonians. Last year, and in many of the preceding years, children and others who are susceptible to ozone had to remain indoors an average of one out of every 10 days due to our high ozone levels.

The creation of green jobs is an excellent way to both reduce our carbon footprint and demand on polluting forms of energy, while providing people with good paying jobs that can not be outsourced. This is not pie in the sky stuff. The wind industry currently employs more people than the coal industry- and keep in mind that wind currently contributes only about one percent of the US power supply, compared to coal%u2019s 52 percent. For every dollar invested, four times as many jobs can be created in the clean energy economy than in the oil industry. Creating clean, renewable home-grown energy, home-made technology and implementing energy conservation measures to replace the several hundred billion dollars we spend just on importing oil every year, is a sensible way to help limit the effects of climate change and in the case of energy efficiency measures, also save people money on their electric bills.

Congressman Green, I ask you to heed the recommendations of the scientific community and work to strengthen the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. Action is needed now. I urge you to act in the best interests of your and your constituents%u2019 children and grandchildren to limit the harm we are placing them in. Thank you very much.